Apparatus for treating photographic prints



Sept. 22, 1931. A. w. CAPS ET AL 1,824,259

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed July 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l llel ' I Win INVENTORS fill/110' Wlh vs I CTOZJLSG em: :3 w N flea ATTORN Sept. 22, 1931. A. w. cAPs ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed July 7, 1928 SYSheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fiikar W 3 (75201 51 2766726 ATT EY Sept. 22, 1931. w CAPS ET AL 1,824,259

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed July 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 22, 1931. A. w. CAPS ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGHAPHIC PRINTS Filed July 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 x h tm HT w WCa/ S cu' ATT NE Patented Sept. 22, 1931 umrao s'rA'rEs PATENT orncs LB'I'HUI W. cm AID JOHN I. 51ml OI ROCHESTER, raw YORK, AS81680" 1'0 PHO'I'OBTLEI. WIPOBA'I'IOI, OI PROVIDE! OD! ISLAND, A OOBPOIATIOI 0' OD! mm APPARATUS I03 TREATING PHOTOGRAPH! PRINTS Application filed m 1,

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating photographic prints. The principal object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is more eflicient and satisfactory and which results in the production of better prints than those produced by previous apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating photographic prints in which the prints are so handled that the various liquids used in treating them are thoroughly and completely worked into the sensitized coating or emulsion on the prints uickly and efiicientl An additional 0 ject is to provide etter and more satisfactory drive means for driving the sheet conveyingl means in photographic apparatus than as been used heretofore. More especially, one object is the provision of means for driving the conveying means through a plurality of individually driven shafts, in order to reduce the strain on the conveying means and to produce a smoother and more satisfactory drive.

A further object of the invention is the provision of easily removable separators or partitions for subdividing a liquid receptacle used in the treatment of photographic prints. A further object is the provision of means such as ribs on the separators and on the walls of the liquid receptacles for preventing close contact of the photographic prints with the separators and walls as the prints are moved through the receptacles by the conveying means.

A further object is to provide drivin mechanism and guiding mechanism for t e conveying means so designed and constructed that the driving and guiding shafts may be removed or replaced easily and quickly when desired.

A still furtherobject of the invention is the provision of a flexible drive for the sheet conveying means so arranged that a motor may be placed on the floor, for example, and may drive the conveying means continuously even though the conveying means and other parts of the photographic apparatus are mounted for bodily movement with respect to the m0- tor.

1m. lerlal I0. 290,974.

To these and other ends the invention res des in certain improvements and combinatlons of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

F i 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of p otographic apparatus with which the present invention may be used, illustrating certain features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally approximately through the center of certain parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with the separators omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan of parts of the print conveying means, showing one of the pick up devices or pin-bars together with portlons of the continuous members or chains to which it is attached;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan of one corner of a liquid container, with parts removed, showing the separators therein;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the apparatus taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough a liquid container illustrated in Fig. 2 on a somewhat larger scale, showing the separators which are omitted from Fig. 2 for-the sake of clearness.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the gearing for driving the sheet conveying means;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section substantially on the line 1010 of Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The method of treating a photographic print which it is desired to employ in the present instance results in a print which is better and of higher quality than those made by other methods; According to the present method, the print is not allowed to remain comparatively stationary within the developing and fixing baths, but is moved around out o I I .It is also desirable to bend the prints in i order to work the chemicals more thoroughly 5. p

f -,-Vll0l1$ff01flIl*0f, EPP8;lB-tll8 may be employed 'forl'carrying out this novel and im- 4 accomplis ed b a continuous movement at a ong a predetermined path of uniform rate travel, which may be, for example,-a sinuous path passing a plurality of timesinto and each chemical bath.

into the sensitized coating or emulsion on the surface of theprint. Preferably this bend? ing or working of the print takes place both while it is immersed in the bath and while'it is withdrawn therefrom between successive immersions. It is found in practice that this bending or working of the rint aids materially in obtaining thoroug penetration of the emulsion by the chemicals. The bending which occurs when the print is not immersed tends to soften the emulsion coating so that when the print is subsequently immersed the chemicals may penetrate better, while the bending which occurs durin immersion actually works the chemicals into the coating in a highly satisfactory manner.

The bending above referred to, both that occurring within the bath and that occurring when the print is withdrawn therefrom, may be accompanied by straightening of the print. In other words, the print may be bent while immersed in the bath and then straightened, and may be bent while removed from the bath and again straightened.

Preferably the bending does not take place over the entire area of the print simultaneously, but a portion of the print is bent and the zone of bending is moved acress the face of the print so that the entire areacf the print is bent progressively, the straightening preferably taking place in the same pro ressive manner.

T e term bending as used above and in the claims is not intended to include the slight deviations from a true plane which is at a different point in the bath from every tially weakened by-reaction with the emul- A sion at a previous point in the travel of the print through the bath.

Still another feature of the novel method of treating a print comprises movirgg the print successively througha number 0 com artments or subdivisions if the chemical liath, the printbeing moved preferably only once throughfeach compartmentor subdivision,

and ccessively' from one compartmenttoanother."

proved method, of treating a photographic print. A preferred embodlmentof an a pa ratus for "carrying out this method is i ustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will now be described in connection therewith.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of a photographic apparatus including upright posts 21 which support horizontally extending channel members 22 on which a camera front 23 is mounted, this camera front carrying a suitablelens system within a casing 24. prism (not shown) is preferably provided to bend the light rays so that the camera may be usedto photograph objects laid upon a horizontal copyho der'26.

A camera body 27, having a focal plane28 therein, is connected to the camera front 23 b the extensible bellows29, and is movable bac and forth along the frame members 22 for purposes of focusing. The means for movmg this camera body may include a rack 30 fixed to one of the frame members 22, and a pinion 31 meshing therewith, the pinion being mounted upon a shaft which is journalled on the camera body.

A roll 32 of sensitized sheet material may be mounted within the camera body in such position that successive portions of the roll may be unwound and placed in the focal plane 28, where they may be exposed to make photographic prints, the exposed portions then being fed downwardly by feeding means such as the rolls 34 into suitable sheet holding means. This holding means, as shown in Fig. 2, may comprise the chute 35. After an exposed portion of the strip of sheet material has been fed down into the chute, it may be severed from the rest of the strip by operation of a severing knife 36, the exposed portion thus being allowed to fall by gravity until its lower edge rests upon a stop plate 37 at the bottom of the clfute 35.

Suitable sheet conveying means, illustrated in general in Fig. 2, is arranged to pick up the prints from the chute 35 and to carry them through developing, fixing and washing baths. This conveying means, in the present instance, comprises a pair of endless or continuous members such as the chains 40, transversely spaced from each other so that one of the chains is adjacent one side of the apparatus and the other chain adjacent the other side. Cross bars 41 are attached to these chains at intervals, each cross bar having along one end secured to one chain and the other end to the other chain, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the cross bar extends crosswise of the apparatus and moves along with the endless members 40 whenever the latter are moved.

The cross bars 41 each carry a pluralit of forwardly extending pins or darts 42. he path of travel of the conve mg means 1S slightly above the sto plate 3 at the bottom of the chute 35, an consequently a print within this chute lies across or intersects the ath of travel of the pin-bars 42. As a pinliar travels forwardly with the pins 42 projecting from the forward edge thereof, the pins come into contact with and pierce the sheet or print, thus impaling the print on the pin-bar and attaching it to the conveying means so that it is drawn out of the chute 35 and carried along the ath of travel of the conveying means. It Wlll be understood that the forward edge of the sheet or print is impaled on the pin bar, while the rest of the sheet trails alon behind the pin-bar.

Walls 50, pre erably forming downward and rearward extensions of the side walls of the camera body 27, are supported by rollers 51 (Figs. 1 and 5) which roll upon the lower flanges of the channel members 22 so that the side walls. may move back and forth the frame with the camera body 27 when the latter is shifted for purposes of focusing. The chute 35 is arranged within a casing or housing of which these side walls 50 form a part, and the endless members 40 of the conveyin means are preferably guided in part by sha which are-mounted in these walls 50, so that the chute 35 and the conveying means move back and forth bodily as a unit with the camera body 27 when the latter is focused.

A container illustrated in elevation in Fig. 1 and in cross-section in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, is detachably clamped by'clips '56 (Fig. 5) to the lower edges of the walls 50, the upper edges of the container 55 preferably being pressed against the lower side of a horizontal flange of a T-shaped member 57 secured to the walls 50. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 5 that the upper surface of this horizontal flange of the T-shaped member 57 rubber. The

is slightly inclined, in order that liquid dripping thereon may run off into the ,con-

tainer 55. A gasket 58 may be placed between the top of the container 55 and the bar 57 to make a liquid tight joint.

The container 55 is preferably divided into a number of compartments or receptacles by partitions 60, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. These partitions as well as the outer walls of the container are preferably formed of a single integral piece of material such as hard rst compartment 62 at the front of the container may hold a developing bath, and is provided with a filling spout 73 (Fig. 1) and a drain cock 63 by which it may be emptied when desired. Behind this compartment 62 is a second com artment 64 for a washing or rinsing bath, t is compartment having an outlet 65 in one side wall thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, and having an opening 66 in its bottom which communicates with a conduit 67.

Behind this washing or rinsing receptacle 64 is a somewhat larger receptacle 68 for holding a fixin bath of any suitable liquid such as hypo. his fixing bath has a filling spout 74 (Figs. 1 and 5) and a drain cock 69 at its bottom. Behind this fixing bath 68, and occupying the remainder of the container 55, is a compartment or receptacle 70 for containing a washing bath. This receptacle is connected to the previously mentioned washing receptacle 64 by means of an opening 71 in the bottom of the receptacle 70 which communicates with the conduit 67 above mentioned. A drain cook 72 may be provided in the conduit 67 for draining both of the washing baths 64 and 70 when de sired.

A liquid conduit 75, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, is supplied with water through suitable connections including the hose 76 (Fig. 1) and has a series of perforations in its lower edge, so that water issues therefrom in a spray indicated by the lines 77 in Fig. 2. This s ray impinges upon and washes the conveying means and the prints carried thereby as will be mentioned below, the water then falling into the washing bath 70. As the bath 70 is connected to the receptacle 64 through the conduit 67, the outlet opening 65 in the latter receptacle determines the liquid level within the former. As long as liquid is supplied to the washing bath 70 through the spray 77, there will be a constant flow of liquid downwardly in the receptacle 70, along the conduit 67, and upwardly in the washing bath 64, from which liquid will overflow through the outlet opening 65. This circulation of the liquid, although shown here, is the subject of a separate invention and is claimed in a copending application, now Patent No. 1,777,488, issued October 7, 1930, for an invention of John S. Greene.

The path of travel of the conveying means is best illustrated with reference to Fig. 2. After passing the print holding chute 35, the conveying means is guided by a shaft 80 and extends thence downwardly around a shaft 81 near the bottom of the. developing bath 62, and then upwardly again to a shaft 82 which extends across the top of this bath. The conveying means then makes another dip into the developing bath, passing around a second shaft 81, and up to a second shaft 82, which is over the partition 60 separating the developing bath 62'from the washing bath 64.

. means asses down into the washing or rinsing'bat 64,aroun d athird shaft 81 and up to a thirdshaft 82 which is placed over the second partition 60, which separates the washing bath 64 from the fixing bath 68.

From this point the conveying means travels down into the fixing bath 68, around a shaft 81 and up again to the next shaft 82, and then down again, and so on, the conveying means being threaded back and forth alternatel over an upper shaft 82 and a lower sha t 81, so that it makes several dips into the fixing bath. After emerging from the fixing bath for the last time, the conveyin means passes over a shaft 82 which is above t e rearmost partition 60, and thence extends down into, the washing bath 70, around another one of the shafts'81, and up over the next to the last shaft 82. While passing over this shaft, the conveying means and the prints carried by it are subjected to the thorough washing action of the spray 77, and the conveying means then makes a final dip into the washing bath, around the last shaft 81 of the lower set, and up to the rearmost shaft 82 of the upper set of shafts.

Behind the container 55 is a delivery tank 90 which contains a liquid bath up to the level of an outlet opening 91 protected by grating bars 92. This outlet opening 91 leads; to a conduit 93 which extends down the side and along the bottom of the tank 90, to a drain pipe 94, discharging into a trough 95 (Fig. 1) which may be connected at 96 to-a sewer. The drain cocks 63, 69 and 72, above mentioned also discharge into this trough 95, so that liquid may be discharged from any of the liquid receptacles at any time, irrespective of the back and forth motion of the receptacles which takes place when the camera is moved to change the focus.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the path of travel of the conveying means, after extending around the last of'the shafts 82, passes rearwardly over the delivery tank 90 to a shaft 100 mounted on arms 101 pivoted at 102 to the casing or housing of the apparatus. A link 103 connected toan arm 101 may carry a nut 104 bearing against the rear wall of the casing, by means of which the shaft 100 may be moved to adjust the tension of the endless members 40 of the conveying means.

A print removing device, indicated in general by the numeral 108 in Fig. 2, is mounted above the delivery tank 90. The detailed construction of this print removing device is the subject of a separate invention, and need not be described herein except to say that an arm or cross bar 109 is automatically moved downwardly and rearwardly immediately following the passage of each pin-bar 41, so that a print carried by the pin-bar is kicked off of the pins 42 on which it is impaled, and when thus freed from the conveyingrmeans,

the print drops by g avityto the bath in the delivery tank 90. he print may be icked up from this delivery tank whenever esired by the operator of the apparatus.

The conveying means, now no longer carry? the dark chamber of the apparatus. A plate 114, preferably of hardrubber extends downwardly from the lower edge of the plate 113 to a point slightly below the surface of the liquid within the washing bath 70.

From the shaft 111 the path of travel of the conveying means passes over another shaft 115, and extends thence downwardly and forwardly, past the paper chute 35, to

the shaft 80. Thus, as the endless members 40 of the conveying means are driven forward continuously, each pin-bar 41 travels in succession past the chute 35, and each one picks up a sheet from the chute, provided another sheet is supplied to the chute as fast as one is taken away. Each sheet or rint is carried in succession through the eveloping, fixing, and washing baths above mentioned, and is dropped into the delivery tank 90, from which point the pin-bar returns to the chute 35 to pick up still another sheet. This cycle may be repeated indefinitely, as long as it is desired to continue the operation of the apparatus.

Preferably each of the developing, fixing, and washing receptacles is subdivided by separators or partitions into a number of compartments. tions are omitted from Fig. 2 for thesake of clearness, but are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and will now be described with reference to these figures.

The separators are of two kinds difi'ering slightly from each other. Those of one kind act as supports or carriers for the shafts 81 placed near the bottoms of the bath receptacles, while those of the other kind might be termed intermediate separators, and are placed between and sup orted by those-of the first kind. Since all of the separators of the first kind are alike, as are all those of the second kind, it will be necessary to describe only one of each kind.

A separator of the first kind-that is, one which carries one of the shafts 81-is shown in elevation in Fig. 5, and in plan and cross section in Figs. 4 and 6, respectively. It comprises a central web or partition 120, extending substantially across the bath receptacle, and has a flange 121 extending vertically'at each end of the web portion. Each These separators or partiof these lateral fla projects somewhat above the top and be ow the bottom of the web ortion, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The ttom of each lateral flange has an enlar ment 122 of somewhat circular outline (Fig. 6) having flat shoulders 123 at the top of the enlargement, on both sides. A shaft 81 is loosely fitted in suitable openings in the enlargements 122, endwise movement of the shaft being prevented by the side walls of the receptacle, as is seen from Fig. 5. When the separator is removed from the receptacle (which may be done easily; the shaft 81 may be withdrawn longitudina ly from the separator, so that a roller 124 loosely mounted on the shaft may be removed or replaced, when desired. The endless members of the conveying means preferably do not come into actual contact with the shafts 81, but are guided by the rollers 124 on these shafts.

Each of the lateral flanges 121 has at its upper end a somewhat rectangular enlargement 128 which is loosely guided and held in horizontal alinement by being received in a notch in a comb-plate 129. Since the chains 40 of the conveying means pass under the roller 124 on the shaft 81 on each of the separators, it is obvious that the tension of these chains tends to raise each of these shafts 81 and to raise the whole separator with it. This upward reaction transmitted to the separators is resisted by suitable means such as the screws 130, threadedthrough Z-shaped clips 131 secured to the comb-plates 129 by means of screws 132. The screws 130 are comparatively long, so that they may serve as adjusting screws, being screwed up or down to greater or less extents to vary the vertical position of the separator. It will be understood that the screws 130 simply abut against the tops of the lateral flanges 121 on the separator, while the members 40 of the conveying means constantly tend to lift the separator and thus keep it pressed upwardly against these abutment screws 130.

The partitions or webs 120 of the separators preferably have ribs or ridges 135 extending vertically on each surface thereof, so that as a print is drawn past the web by the conveying means, it is prevented from coming into flatwise contact with the web. By the use of ribs such as this for holding the prints in spaced relation to the partitions or webs, it is found that the prints are not streaked or damaged, as is sometimes the case when these ribs are not provided. The chemicals can at all times come into contact with the print, and are not prevented from doing so by the print lying against a wall or partition; hence properly treated rints of high quality are produced when t e apparatus is provided with ribs of this kind. Similar ribs 136 are formed on the end walls of the container 55, and on the partitions therein, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be observed from Fig. 6 that the various bath rece tacles are made of lengths which are a multiple of the widths of the enlargements 122 on the bottoms of the se rators, plus a slight clearance. Thus the da e oping bath receptacle 62 accommodates two of the separators, the washing bath 64 one, the fixing bath 68 six, and the washing bath 70 holds two. These separators are arranged loosely in the receptacles, so that they have a limited play therein, but sidewise motion is confined by contact with the side walls of the container 55, while motion of the lower ends of the separators toward the front and rear of the apparatus is limited by contact of the enlargements 122 with each other and with the partitions 60 or end walls of the container 55. In this way the lower ends of the separators are held loosely with freedom for slight movement horizontally, while the upper ends are loosely held in the notches of the comb-plate 129. The endless members 40 of the conveying means lift upwardly on the separators, holding them slightly off of the bottoms of the receptacles, the vertical position of each separator being determined independently of the others by the position in which its adjusting screws 130 are set.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the webs 120 of the separators are not of uniform thickness throughout, but are slightly tapered, being thicker at the bottom than at the top. This is so'that the surfaces of the webs will be substantially parallel to the paths of travel of the conveying means. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the substantially vertical portions of the endless members 40, extending from the upper shafts 82 to the lower shafts 81, are nearly parallel to each other, but not quite exactly parallel, at least in the intermediate portions of the various baths. The taper of the webs of the separators is arranged to be approximately the same as the taper between two adjacent straight portions of the endless member 40.

The separators of the other kindthat is, those which do not carry shafts 81, and which are placed between the separators of the form described above-are substantially the same as the separators of the first form, except that they are somewhat shorter, and do not have the circular enlargements 122 which are formed on the other separators. These separators of the second sort, shown in plan in Fig. 4 and in cross section in Fig. 6, have webs 140, tapered like the webs 120 of the shaft carrying separators, and likewise provided with ribs 141 similar to the ribs 135. Lateral flanges 142 at the sides of the ribs 140 are similar, in general, to the flanges 121 on the other separators, and they have rectangular enlargements 143 similar to the enlargements 128 on the other separators, but somewhat shorter.

These intermediate separators are placed in what might be termed an upside down position; thatis, the en1arge'ments143 are I placed at the bottom, instead of the top, and

the tapered webs are arranged with their thickest portions uppermost. An intermediate separator is placed between each two adjacent. shaft-carrying separators, as is plainly shown in Fig. 6, the enlargements 143 on the intermediate separators resting upon and bein supported by the shoulders 123 on the ot er separators. Thus the intermediate separators are held loosely between and supported by the shaft-carrying separators, while the latter, in turn, are su ported by the conveying means, as above pomted out.

When all of the separators are in place, and when the conveying means (omitted for the sake of clearness from Fig. 6) is threaded back and forth between the upper shafts 82 and the lower shafts 81, there will be a se arator between each two vertically-exten 'ng portions of the conveying means. In other words, each two adjacent oppositely moving portions of the conveying means will be separated from each other by aweb or partition, so that there is no possibility of a print coming into contact with or becoming snagged upon an adjacent part of the conveying means moving in the opposite direction. The print is thus confined to a comparatively narrow path of travel, and even if the conveying means should become stationary for a time, the print could not float out to one side and become entangled with other prints or with parts of the apparatus.

Each print is thus confined throughout its travel to one comparatively small section of the bath. Furthermore, the volume of liquid needed to maintain a bath of given depth is obviously less when these separators are used than when they are absent, since the volume of liquid needed is decreased by the total volume of the submerged portions of the separators, without lessening in any way the depth of the bath or the effective length of the path of travel of the print through the bath. Economy of chemicals thus results from the use of the separators, in addition to the other advantages such as the prevention of snagging of the prints, prevention of undesirable eddy currents in the baths, etc.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings, each of the shafts 82 of the upper set has a pair of sprockets fixed thereto, one of the chains 40 of the conveying means passing over each sprocket. A roller 151 is loosely mounted on the shaft between the sprockets, for guiding the print as it is drawn over the shaft by movement of the conveying means. Each of the shafts 82 of the upper set of shafts is preferably removable easily and quickly from the apparatus whenever it is necessary to replace .a shaft or to take out the removable separators from the container 55'. Agear hou 155m shown in Fig. 5 while a bea late 156 isfixed to the right hand w'all50. ach shaft 82 passes through-comparatively large openings in the side walls 50, and extends through openings in the housin The le t hand end of t eshaft 82 may extend throng: a combination radial and thrust ball aring 157 (Figs. 5, 8 and 9) which is fitted comparativel loosely into an opening in the vertical wa of the housing 155. The ball bearing 157 may be slid leftwardly out of the opening in which it is received, but rightward movement thereof is prevented b a flange 158 best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. T e openin in which this bearing 157 is received is pre erably of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the sprockets 150 on the shaft 82, so that these sprockets need not be removed from the shaft before the shaft is withdrawn from the apparatus, but may pass easily through the bearing opening when the shaft is moved longitudinally leftwardly.

The right hand end of each shaft 82 passes through a radial ball bearing 160 (Fig.5) received in a socket in the plate 156. The shaft preferably does not fit tightly in the bearing but may be easily withdrawnlongitudinally from the bearing. A flange 161 prevents leftward movement of the bearing 160, although the bearing may be shifted rightwardly out of the opening or socket. in

which it is received. A collar 162 is held on the end of the shaft 82'to the right of the bearing 160 by means such as a set screw 163.

Leftward movement of each shaft 82 is normally prevented by contact of the collar 162 with the bearing 160, while rightward movement is prevented by contact of a driving gear 165 with the combination bearing 157. It is but the work of a moment .to remove a shaft 82 by taking off the cover plate 168 which houses the projecting right ends of the shafts, removing the detachable collar left hand side we 50 of t e apparatus, a

155ml: plate 156.

162, taking off the cover plate 170 of the housing 155, and withdrawing the shaft 82 by a leftward longitudinal movement. Durin this withdrawing movement, the bearing 15 comes out of its socket and remains on thetherefrom in a rightward directlon if desired.

Various means may be emplo ed for driving the conveying means. Pre erably, however, each of the shafts 82 is individually driven to transmit power to the conveying means. When a plurality of shafts is driven in this way the strain upon the endless members of the conveying means is much less and a smoother drive results than is the case if it is attem ted to drive the conveying means by the app.ication of power to only a single shaft. Furthermore, the independent individual drive is advantageous in greatly reducing the breakage of parts of the apparatus in case the. conveying means becomes ammed or cloggedin any way. When each of the shafts 82 is driven, any resistance which the conveying means may encounter in one of its dips into the baths is transmitted to the two adjacent shafts 82, one on each side of the location of the resistance or am. If any breakage occurs, it will be confined to these two shafts or to the parts between them. Thus there will be no tendency to break other parts of the apparatus, as would happen if it were attempted to drive the conveying means from a point at some distance away from the location of the jam or resistance.

In order to accomplish this individual drive of the various shafts 82, there may be provided a drive shaft 175 extending across all of the shafts 82 above the left hand ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 7, this drive shaft 175 being within the housing 155. The rear end of the drive shaft 175 (that is, the right hand end when viewed as in Fig. 7) is received in an annular ball bearing 176 held in a socket in the housing'155 b a plate 177. The other or front end of the rive shaft 175 passes through a bearing 178 and abuts against a ball thrust bearing 179 longitudinally adjustable by means of the adjusting screw 180 which carries a lock nut 181.

This drive shaft 175 is connected by suitable ear means to each of the shafts 82. Prefera 1y, this gear means comprises spiral or helical gears 185 on the shaft 175 above each of the shafts 82, and the gears 165 previously mentioned as being on the left hand ends of the shafts 82 are likewise spiral or helical gears which mesh with the gears 185. The use of helical gears in this way is advantageous since it permits the shafts 82 to be withdrawn longitudinally in the manner above described without removal of the shaft 175. Any one of the gears 165 on the shafts 82 may be unmeshed from its corresponding gear 185 simply by turning it slightly at the same time that the shaft 82 is moved longitudinally. The use of helical gears is further advantageous in that the driving gears 185 do not have to be exactly centered over the shafts 82, but may be shifted back and forth slightly when the adjusting screw 180 is turned, without detriment to the drive.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for transmitting power to the drive shaft 175. In the present instance, the drive shaft is shown as being provided near its front end with a bevel gear 188 which meshes with another bevel gear 189 on a vertical shaft or driving spindle 190 which is journalled in a member 191 held by screws 192 in a vertically able reduction gearing within a gear box 198,

which may be driven by the motor 199 mounted on the floor or on any suitable support. A

flexible drive shaft of this kind is provided in order to enable the conveying means to be driven continuously notwithstanding its bodily moti'on back and forth along the frame members 22 when the camera is being moved for purposes of focusing.

Referring now to Figs.'7 and 10, U-shaped yokes 200 held in place by screws 201 may be provided at intervals along the drive shaft 175 to assist in taking up the side thrust in the shaft when it is rotated to drive the shafts 82. The longitudinal thrust of this shaft is taken b the thrust bearing 179. The drive shaft 1 5 may be shifted longitudinally as desired by the adjusting screw 180 in order to adjust the meshing of the bevel gear 188 with the gear 189. This longitudinal adj ustment for the benefit of the bevel gears has no harmful effect upon the helical gear connections between the shaft 175 and the shafts 82, as has been mentioned above. I

It is preferable to drive also the shaft 80 in front of the first shaft 82. This shaft 80 may be identical with the shafts 82 above described except that it does not carry a helical gear 165 on its left hand end. It will be noted from the path of travel of the conveying means, as seen in Fig. 2, that this shaft 80 must rotate in the opposite direction from the rotation of the shafts 82. Hence a spur gear 7 205 is mounted on the left hand end of this shaft 80, as shown in Fig. 7, and this spur gear meshes directly with another spur gear 206 (Figs. 7 and 8) held by pins 207 on the helical gear 165 of the first shaft 82 toward the front of the machine. Thus the first shaft 82, which is driven through helical gearing from the drive shaft 175, serves to drive the shaft 80 in the opposite direction. Since the spur gears 205 and 206 are of the same diameter, the shaft 80 will be driven at the same rate as the shafts 82.

A convenient means for oiling the driving mechanism is shown in Fig. 7. This comprises an oil cup 210 mounted in such position that it drops oil upon the thrust bearing 179. Excess oil from this bearing drips upon the bevel gear 189 and lubricates the same, while excess oil from this gear drips down to an oil collecting device 211 in the nature of an annular flange. The oil falling upon this device 211 is conducted by sloping flutes in the device to the bearing of the spindle 190, so that this spindle bearing is thus lubricated.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the detailed description which has been given above. The

35 to the time it is deposited in the delivery tank 90 has previousl been traced. It will 5 be remembered that t e print travels successively through each of the baths, and is immersed in and removed from each of the baths a plurality of times, except the washing or rinsing bath 64: in which the print is dipped only once.

During thetravel of the print through the baths, it is apparent that the print will be bent to a considerable degree as it passes around the rollers 124 on the shafts 81 at the bottom the baths, and will also be bent between successive immersions by passage around the rollers 151 on the shafts 82 which extend across the tops of the baths. The print will, of course, be straightened during its up or down movement from a shaft 81 to a shaft 82 or vice versa. If the print is of the usual length, it will be considerably longer than the semi-circumference of the rollers 124: and 151, and therefore the entire length of the print will not be bent simultaneously, but it will first be bent at one point (that is, the forward edge first) and this zone of bending, or portion of the print in contact with the rollers, will be progressively moved across the surface of the print as the print ismoved over the roller, so that the entire area of the print will be bent.

It will be remembered that each print travels back and forth a plurality of times in each bath, and each portion of the path of travel is at a different point from every other portion thereof. Each print further passes, during its travel through each bath, through a plurality of compartments formed by the partitions or separators 120 and 140, no print passing more than once through the same compartment.

It will thus be seen that novel apparatus has been provided for carrying out efliciently and satisfactorily the novel method of treating prints set forth above. The photographic prints produced by the method of this invention are of a. high grade and much more satisfactory in many respects than those produced by other methods.

' While one embodiment of apparatus for carrying outthe novel method has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details shown, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended 69 claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a developing bath, a fixing bath, and a washing bath, of a set of shafts extending transversely across said baths near the tops thereof, a sprocket on each of said shafts, a set of shafts extendin transversely across said baths near the ottoms thereof, carrier members extending upwardly through said baths from each of the shafts of the lower set, the shafts of the lower set bein each mounted on one of said carrier mem ers, print conveying means including a chain threaded back and forth alternately first over a shaft of one set and then over a shaft of another set and engaging said sprockets, and adjustable means for resisting the upward thrust on said carrier members caused by said conveying means and for individually adjusting the carrier members to obtain the desired tension on the portion of said chain between each two sprockets on the shafts of the upper set.

2. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a bath for treating a photographic print, of a plurality of shafts extending across said bath above the top thereof, print conveying means passing over said shafts and down into said bath, a drive .bination with a chamber including a pair of spaced walls, of a bath between said walls for treating a photographic print, a shaft extending across from one of said walls to the other above said bath and having each end journalled in one of said walls, a sprocket on said shaft, means for driving said shaft including a member attached to one end of said shaft exterio-rly of said walls, a detachable collar on the other end of said shaft exteriorly of said walls, and print conveying means including a chain passing over said sprocket and extending into said bath, one of said walls having an opening surrounding said shaft of larger diameter than said sprocket, said shaft being quickly removable by detaching said collar and withdrawing said shaft and sprocket longitudinally from said chamber through said opening.

4. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a chamber including-a pair of spaced walls, of a bath between said walls for treating a photographic print, a shaft extending across from one of said walls to the other above said bath, one of said walls having an opening of larger diameter than the said shaft exteriorly of said other wall, and

a member of larger diameter than said shaft mounted on said shaft between said walls, said shaft and member being removable from said chamber as a unit b removing said collar and withdrawing sai shaft longitudinally through said opemn in one wall, said bearing being withdrawn rom said opening and moved with said shaft, and saidmember on said shaft passing through said opening.

5. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a chamber-mcluding a pair of spaced-walls, of a bath between said wallsfor treating a photographic print a plurality of shafts extending across said bath above the to thereof, corresponding ends of each of sald shafts bein journalled in one wall and the opposite ends of said shafts beinfg journalled in the other wall, a member 0 larger diameter than said shafts mounted on each shaft between said walls, print conveying means including an endless member passing over each of sand members of larger diameter on said shafts and extending down into said bath betweenach two of said shafts, helical gears on corresponding ends of each of said shafts exteriorly of said walls, a drive shaft extending across said plurality of shafts, helical gears on said drive shaft meshing with said first named helical gears, and a collar detachably mounted exteriorly of said walls on the end of each shaft opposite to that on which the helical gear is mounted, one of said walls having an opening surrounding each shaft of larger diameter than said member on each shaft, each of said shafts being individually removable independently of the other shafts and of said drive shaft by detaching the collar on said shafts and withdrawing said shaft longitudinally through the associated opening.

6. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a bath for treating a photographic print, of a plurality of shafts extending across said bath, print conveying means supported by each of said shafts and movable along a path extending into said bath, a helical gear on each of said shafts, a drive shaft, helical gears on said drive shaft meshin with said first named helical gears, a beve gear on said drive shaft, a power shaft, a bevel gear on said power shaft meshing with the bevel gear on the drive shaft, and means for holding said drive shaft in predetermined longitudinal position, said holdin means being movable to adjust the meshlng of said bevel gears.

7. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with print treating means including means for conveying a print, of a drive shaft for said conveying means, said drive shaft being substantially horizontal, a bearing for said drive shaft, a bevel gear on said drive shaft adjacent said bearing, a substantially 55 vertical driving spindle beneath said bearing,

a bevel gear on said spindle meshing with the bevel gear on said shaft, an oil collecting dev ce below said bevel gear arranged to direct 011 to said spindle bearing, and means for applying oil to said drive shaft bearing, the parts being so arranged that excess oil from sa d drive shaft bearing falls upon and lubricates the bevel gear on said spindle, and excess oil therefrom falls upon said oil collectlgf-device and is directed thereby to said spin e bearing to lubricate the same.

8. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with means for conveying a hotogra hic print, of a plurality of sha for gui lng said conveying means, a drive shaft extending across said plurality of shafts, a gear on said drive shaft, a gear on one of said plurality of shafts meshing with the gear on the drive shaft, a spur gear attached to said gear on said one of the plurality of shafts, and a spur gear on another of said plurality of shafts meshing with said first named spur gear, so that one of said plurality of shafts is driven in a direction opposite to that in which another is driven.

9. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a set of shafts substantially parallel to each other, of a second set of shafts each offset a substantial distance from said first named set of shafts, photographic print conveylng means including an endless member threaded back and forth from a shaft of one set to a shaft of another set so as to travel in a circuitous path, and means for independently adjusting each of the shafts of one set with respect to the shafts of the other set.

10. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid bath for treating a photographic print, of a plurality of shafts above said bath, a shaft within said bath near the bottom thereof, a carrier member on which said latter shaft is mounted, said carrier member extending upwardly from said serving as a partition subdividing said bath, a pair of notches for guiding opposite edges of said carrier members near the upper end thereof, adjustable means overlying said notches for limiting upward movement of said carrier member, and print conveying means including an endless member threaded from one of said plurality of shafts to said bottom shaft and back to another of said plurality of shafts.

11. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid bath for treating photographic print, of print conveying means movable back and forth in a sinuous ath within said bath, partition means in said ath between each two adjacent oppositely moving portions of said path, and a pair of comb plates on opposite sides of said bath for guiding said partition means.

12. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid bath for treating a shaft through said bath and photographic print, of partition means for separating said bath into a plurality of connected compartments, print conveying means movable through eachof said compartments successively, and a plurality of projections on said partition means for maintaining a print carried by said conveying means out of contact with the major portion of said partition means.

13. In a photographic ap aratus, the comsite direction through an adjacent compartment.

14. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid bath for treating a photographic print, of partition means for separating said bath into a plurality of, connected compartments, print conveying means movable through each of said compartments successively, a rotatable member mounted on said partition means for guiding said print conveying means, and adjusting screw means overlying and contacting with said partition means to determine the height thereof.

15. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid bath for treating a photographic print, of partition means for separating said bath into a plurality of connected compartments, print conveying means movable through each of said compartments successively, said: partition means tending to drop downwardly within said bath and be- ,ing supported therein by said conveying means, and means for loosely holding and guiding said partition means near the upper end thereof while permitting limited movement of the Lower end thereof.

16. In a photographic apparatus, the com bination with a receptacle for holding a print treating bath, of a plurality of shafts extending across said bath near the top thereof, a pair of spaced members extending downwardly from a point near the top of said bath to a point near the bottom thereof, a shaft mounted on said spaced members adjacent the bottom of the bath, print conveying means including a member passing over one of the shafts near the top of the bath, around said shaft at the bottom of the bath and thence over another shaft near the top of the bath, and a web connecting said two spaced members to each other;

17. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for holding a print treating bath, of a plurality of separators extending substantially vertically within said receptacle, and means for loosely guiding said separators adjacent their upper ends, portions of said separators below said guiding means being shaped so as to limit movement of said separators by contact of the separators with each other and with .walls of said receptacle.

18. In a photographic a paratus, the combination with a receptaclefor holding a print treating bath, of a plurality of separators extending substantially vertically within said receptacle for dividing said receptacle into a plurality of compartments, certain of said separators resting upon and being held in position by contact with adjacent separators.

19. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for holding a print treating bath, of print conveying means movable through said receptacle, and partition means in said receptacle adjacent the path of movement of said conveying means, said artition means having ribs thereon for gui ing a print carried by said conveying means.

20. Ina photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid receptacle, of sheet conveying means for moving a sheet within said receptacle adjacent a surface therein, and means projecting from said surface for keeping said sheet spaced from the major portion of said surface during its movement.

21. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a liquid receptacle, of sheet conveying means for moving a sheet within said receptacle in a path substantially parallel to a surface in said receptacle, and a plurality of ribson said surface for guiding said sheet during its movement and for keeping it spaced from said surface.

22. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for holding a prmt treating bath, of a pluralit of partitions extending substantially vertically within said receptacle from a point near the top thereof to a point near the bottom, a comb plate for loosely guiding the upper ends of said partitions, print conveying means including an endless member passing around and supporting each of said partitions, and intermediate partitions placed between said first mentioned partitionsand supported thereby.

ARTHUR W. CAPS. JOHN S. GREENE. 

